Portable beverage cooler



J. A. BRIAN PORTABLE BEVERAGE COOLER May 12, 1970 Filed April 23, 1968 ae Q/ w M 4 .V l r f L 7 r I Q g a CC S o I 2 7 2H J 3 9 m. I M 8 2 Q a 53 A- My 25 Attorneq May '12, 1970 J. A. BRIAN PQRTABLE BEVERAGE COOLER 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 23 1968 INVENTOR. James A. Brian Attorney3,511,429 PORTABLE BEVERAGE COOLER James A. Brian, San Antonio, Tex.,assignor to Crown Zellerbach Corporation, San Francisco, Calif., acorporation of Nevada Filed Apr. 23, 1968, Ser. No. 723,549 Int. Cl.B65d /24 US. Cl. 229-31 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A portablebeverage cooler constructed from a onepiece, water-resistant papenboardblank. The cooler includes opposed end and side wall panels foldablyconnected to a bottom wall panel. Bellows panels are provided at eachcorner of the cooler, foldably connected to both a side and end wall.The bellows panels are secured adjacent a side wall of the cooler bybellows panel locking flaps which are foldably connected along the topedge of each side wall panel. Locking tabs foldably connected to theends of the bellows panel locking flaps are secured together around theends of the cooler and locked in that position by locking flaps foldablyconnected to the top edge of the end wall panels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the field ofportable beverage coolers.

The practice of catering of social functions by beer and soft drinkbottling companies is becoming increasingly more popular. When a socialfunction is scheduled, a beer or soft drink bottling company will becommissioned to supply liquid refreshment. Prior to my invention, thebeverage company would deliver the liquid refreshment to the socialfunction at the scheduled time in conventional coolers constructed ofmetal, plastic and the like. The beverage would then be packed in iceand left at the function site to cool.

Since the conventional coolers are relatively expensive, the beveragecompany is compelled from a practical standpoint to return and reclaimthe coolers at the termination of the social function so that they maybe reused. Obviously, this requires the expenditure of considerable timeand effort for the return trip.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide an inexpensivebeverage cooler, which may be discarded after the first use.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an inexpensivebeverage cooler which may be assembled by one person without the needfor construction or erection components.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION My invention provides a throw-away,paperboard, beverage cooler erected from a die-cut blank of suchconfiguration that no additional components such as stitching oradhesive are required for its erection. The cooler is erected from awater-resistant, one-piece blank comprising side wall panels and endwall panels foldably connected to a bottom wall panel. Bellows panelsare provided at each corner of the cooler to provide for materialcontinuity, each bellows panel being foldably connected to an end andside wall panel. Upon erection, the bellows panels are folded along theside walls of the container and secured in that position by a bellowslocking flap foldably connected to the top of each side wall. Lockingtabs foldably connected to each end of each bellows locking flap arelocked on the outside of the end wall of the cooler and are secured inthat position by a locking flap foldably connected to the top edge ofeach end wall panel.

United States Patent O 3,511,429 Patented May 12, 1970 Because thecooler is constructed of inexpensive materials, it may be discarded bythe user once it has been emptied, thus dispensing with the necessityfor the beverage company returning to reclaim the cooler.

These and other novel features of the present invention will be evidentin the following specification and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a plan view, showing theinside face of a folda=ble blank from which the cooler is formed.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective View of the initial stage oferection of the cooler, i.e. the folding of both the side and end wallpanels to a vertical position.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cooler in the secondstep of the erection procedure, having the bellows panels positionedadjacent the side wall panels.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cooler in a furtherstage of erection having the bellows panel locking flaps foldeddownwardly to secure the bellows panels against the side walls of thecooler.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cooler in a furtherstage of erection showing the locking tabs in a locked position.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cooler in the finalstage of its erection showing the end wall looking flaps folded aroundthe locking tabs and wedgedsecurely between the locking tabs and the endwall of the container.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cooler in an erected condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The cooler blank 20' shown in FIG. 1 described interms applicable to the cooler formed therefrom, includes side Wallpanels 21 and 22 foldably connected to bottom wall panel 23 along scorelines 24 and 25 respectively. End wall panels 26 and 27 are foldablyconnected to the bottom wall panel along score lines 28 and 29respectively.

Bellows panel 30 is foldably connected to end wall panel 27 along scoreline 24 and to side wall panel 21 along score line 29. Bellows panel 31is foldably connected to end wall panel 26 along score line 24 and toside wall panel 21 along score line 28. Similarly, bellows panel 32 isfoldably connected to end Wall panel 26 along score line 25 and to sidewall panel 22 along score line 28 and bellows panel 33 is foldablyconnected to end wall panel 27 along score line 25 and to side wallpanel 22 along score line 29. Each of the various bellows panels 30-33include outer portion 70 and inner portion 71 foldably connected alongscore line 59 which extends from a point on the bellows panel adjacent acorner of the bottom wall panel to the outer free corner of the bellowspanel thus bisecting the bellows panel.

Bellows panel locking flap 34 is foldably connected to side wall panel21 along score line 35 and bellows panel locking flap 36 is foldablyconnected to side wall panel 22 along score line 37. Score lines 35 and37 have been double scored for a reason to be hereinafter explained.

Locking tabs 38 and 39 are foldably connected to bellows panel lockingflap 34 along score lines 40 and 41 respectively. It will be noted scorelines 40 and 41 have been offset slightly with respect to score lines 28and 29 for a reason to be hereinafter explained. Similarly, lockingflaps 42 and 43 are foldably connected to bellows locking flap 36 alongscore lines 44 and 45 respectively. Score lines 44 and 45 have also beenoffset slightly from score lines 28 and 29. Notches 46-49 have beenprovided in locking tabs 38, 39, 42 and 43 respectively for a reason tobe hereinafter described.

Locking flaps designated generally as 50 and 51 are foldalbly connectedto end wall panels 26 and 27 along score lines 52 and 53 respectively.Score lines 52 and 53 have been double scored for a reason to behereinafter explained.

Locking flaps 50 and 51 each include outer panels 54, inner tuck panel55 and outer tuck panel 56. Inner tuck panel 55 is foldably connected toouter panel 54 along score 57 which is double scored for a reason to behereinafter explained. Inner tuck panel 55 is connected to outer tuckpanel 56 along score line 58.

FIGS. 2-6 are a series of fragmentary perspective views of the cooler inprogressive stages of erection. Only one end of the cooler is shown inthe construction phase since the procedure for the erection of theopposite end is identical.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the erection is begun by folding side wallpanels 21 and 22 and end wall panel 26 to vertical position. During thisstep, bellows panels 31 and 32 are folded about bisecting score line 59.The bellows fold panels 32 and 31 having been folded about diagonalscores 59 into a triangular configuration, as shown in FIG. 1 are thenpiovted about their vertical connections with the end and side walls ofthe cooler until bellows panel 31 is positioned adjacent side wall panel21 and bellows panel 32 is positioned adjacent side wall 22 as shown inFIG. 3. It will be noted that the bellows panels terminate in a pointconnection with the corner of said bottom wall panel to provide formaterial continuity at the corners of the cooler. Referring now to FIG.4, the erection of the cooler proceeds with bellows panel locking flaps34 and 36 being folded downwardly in the direction of the arrow tosecure the bellows panels 31 and 32 between the bellows fold lockingflaps and the side wall panels. Score lines and 37 have been doublescored to provide rim panels 65 along the top of the side walls of thecooler. Rim panels 65, having a width equal to the distance between thedouble scores, provide the necessary space between side wall panels 21and 22 and bellows locking flaps 34 and 36 respectively, to allow forthe double thickness of the bellows fold panels.

It will be noted from FIG. 4, that once the bellows fold locking flaps34 and 36 have been folded downwardly, notch 47 in locking tab 39 opensdownwardly and notch 39 and locking tab 43 opens unwardly. Referring nowto FIG. 5, locking tabs 39 and 43 are folded inwardly and notch 47 isplaced within notch 49 to secure the container in an erected condition.It will be noted score lines 41 and 45, and score lines and 44connecting the various locking tabs to the bellows locking flaps havebeen offset outwardly from score lines 28 and 29 to allow for theincreased thickness of the folded material along the vertical corners ofthe cooler when the flaps have been folded to the position disclosed inFIG. 5.

Locking tabs 39 and 43 are then locked in the secured position by endwall locking flap 50. This lock is effected by first folding outer tuckflap 56 about score line 58 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 5,until it is adjacent to inner tuck panel 55. Locking flap 50 is thenfolded downwardly about double score line 52 until outer panel 54 isadjacent locking tabs 39 and 43. It will be seen from FIG. 6 that scoreline 52 has been double scored to provide a rim panel 66 havingthickness sufiicient to allow for the double thickness of locking tabs39 and 43.

Finally, tuck panels 55 and 56 are folded about score 57 and wedgedbetween end wall panel 26 and locking panels 39 and 43. Score line 57has been double scored to provide a rim panel 67 having an appropriatewidth to allow for the double thickness of locking tabs 39 and 43.

Referring again to FIG. 4, the tuck panels 55 and 56 have been notchedas at and 81 such that tuck panels 55 and 56 will take on an angularconfiguration (see FIG. 5) once the panels have been folded about scoreline 58. This provides for ease in slipping the tuck panels between endwall panel 26 and locking tabs 39 and 43 as shown in FIG. 6. Becausetuck flaps 55 and 56 cooperate to provide a double thickness of materialbetween the end wall and the locking tabs, a tighter friction engagementis effected thus maintaining the box in a securely erected position. Theend wall locking panel also serves as a handle for lifting the cooler inits erected condition.

Although the bellows panels may be folded on the inside of the side wallpanels, I prefer to position them on the outside because I havedetermined they provide greater support for the side walls againstbulge.

The cooler may be constructed of solid fibre or corrugated paperboard orequivalent materials. When using paperboard, the blank may be coatedwith any appropriate material such as a polyethylene base wax for thenecessary degree of water-resistance. It is conceived that a plasticliner may be placed within the cooler for added water-resistance,however, I have found the wax coating sufficient.

It will be seen that because the cooler is formed from a one-pieceblank, having material continuity throughout, wicking of moisture alongvarious joints is precluded, thus the cooler is well adapted for socialfunctions in homes etc.

It will also be seen that I have provided an inexpensive Water-resistantthrow-away beverage cooler which may be easily and quickly erected froma paperboard blank by one person without the necessity of gluing,stitching, etc.

An embodiment of the present invention has been set forth in detail forpurposes of making a complete disclosure thereof; however, numerousmodifications will occur to one skilled in the art without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

Having therefore described my invention, I claim:

1. A container constructed from a one-piece, paperboard blank, thecontainer comprising:

(a) A bottom wall panel;

(b) A pair of side wall panels foldably cannected to said bottom wallpanel along opposed edges thereof;

(c) A pair of end wall panels foldably connected to said bottom wallpanel along opposed edges thereof, each vertical edge of each said endwall panels positioned adjacent a vertical edge of one of said side wallpanels, thus forming vertical corners of said container;

(d) Bellows panels at each vertical corner of said container foldablyconnecting one end of one of said side wall panels to one end of one ofsaid end wall panels, said bellows panels positioned adjacent the sidewalls of said container;

(e) Locking flaps foldably connected to the top edge of each of saidside wall panels, said locking flaps maintaining said bellows panelsadjacent said side walls of said container;

(f) Locking tabs foldably connected to each end of each of said lockingflaps cooperating to secure the container in an erected condition;

(g) A second pair of locking flaps, each of said second locking flapsfoldably connected to the top edge of an end wall panel and including anouter panel, an inner tuck panel and an outer tuck panel foldablyconnected in series relation, said outer panel lying adjacent the outersurface of said cooperating locking tabs and said inner and outer tuckpanels in juxtaposition and frictionally engaged between said end wallpanel and the inner surface of said cooperating locking tabs to maintainsaid cooperating locking tabs in a locked condition.

2. A paperboard blank for a container, comprising:

(a) A bottom wall panel;

(b) Side walls panels foldably connected to opposite edges of saidbottom wall panel;

(c) End wall panels foldably connected to opposite edges of said bottomwall panel;

((1) Bellows panels foldably connecting said side wall panels to saidend wall panels;

6 (e) Locking flaps foldably connected to the outer ing tabs in theircooperatingly secured position in edge of each of said side wall panels;the erected condition in the container. (f) Locking tabs foldablyconnected to each end of each of said locking flaps, each of saidlocking tabs References Clted adapted to cooperate with a locking tabconnected to 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS a corresponding end of the other ofsaid locking 912 263 2/1909 Potter flaps to maintain said container inan erected condi- 2 364267 12/1944 Butter'y 229 31 tion; T A second pairof locking flaps, each of said second gig pair of locking flaps foldablyconnected to the outer 10 3:240:611 3/1966 Williams 1 XR edge of one ofsaid end Wall panels and comprising an outer panel, an inner tuck paneland an outer DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Primary Examiner tuck panel foldablyconnected in series relation, each of said second pair of locking flapsadapted to be U.S. Cl. X.R.

folded around said locking tabs and to lock said lock- 15 22952

